Printing apparatus



F. V. GARDNER PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 19:9.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

FRANK v. GARDNER, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

PRINTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed May 28; 1919. Serial No. 300,396.

and useful Improvements in Printing Ap paratus, of which the following is a speciarately secured ,to

fication. I

My invention relates to improvements in type adapted to be employed in writ ng designs, signs, advertisements and slmllar notices where only one or a few coples are required. One of its objects is to provide portable type adapted to be convenlently and accurately applied by hand to produce successively the letters or elements of the design in alinement or true relation one to another. Another object is to provide for ascertaining or insuring that the letters or elements are in the desired position or'relation before completing the act of printing. Another object is to provide for examining the printing result from each element be fore the element is removed, so that the printing operation may be repeated if required to secure satisfactory results. Another object is to provide an improved mounting for hand operated type or design elements. Another object is to provide improved means to accurately apply large hand operated type successively to produce words or designs. My invention also com prises certain details of form, combination and arrangement, all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying' drawings, inv which:

Figure 1 is an illustration of a partially completed sign illustrating the appllcation of my invention.

Fig. 21s a plan of one of the separate or individual type members.

' A Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the same.

Fig. 4] is a sectional detail on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. & illustrating a modification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiments of my invention, in which the respective letters of the alphabet 14: or other unit elements of the design. to be printed or transferred are sepbacking members 15 which also have anchor blocks 16 of substantially the thickness of the letter or member 14: attached thereto. The member 14 may be of rubber or other flexible material or composition, as for instance the flexible composition'emplo-yed by printers for inking rolls. The object is to provide letters or members 14, depending upon the i size thereof, which are sufficiently flexible to conform under hand pressure or such pressure as is available to the surface to be printed on, and to secure a clear sharp and uniform "inked impression thereon. The larger letters require to be of softer or more flexible material than smaller ones, due to the pressure available per unit surface being less.

The members 16 may be of wood, cardboard, or similar material adapted to retain its position by frictional contact upon any surface with which it may be brought in contact. I preferably employ sheet cork or wood for this purpose.

The member 15 is preferably of celluloid or other composition of a similar nature, and is preferably transparent or sufliciently so so that the position of the letter attached thereto and also portions of the adjoining printed letter or design element may show through the member 15 and enable the 0perator to judge whether theletter about to be printed is in correct position or not before pressure is applied thereto. The member 15 is also preferably sufliciently flexible so that the letter to be printed does not come into actual contact with the surface to be printed on until pressure is applied to member 15, and also so that the letter may be lifted away from the face to be printed as indicated in dotted line Fig. 4 to examine the work, and if necessary reink or reprint the letter before disturbing the adjusted position of the member 16 relative to the surface to be printed on.

The member 15 may if desired be provided with guide lines 18 either longitudinally or transversely thereof to assist in adjusting the letter about to be printed with previously printed letters, or with reference to base lines 22 or other guide lines on the surface to be Printed.

Printing in the general manner herein indioated, that is by hand using separate type units, has been unsatisfactory and of limited application, due to faulty alinement and imp perfect impressions, particularly where relatively large'type are employed, causing the work to have astaggered and ra finished gedappearance.

In Fig. I have illustrated a modification in which a two part sheet metal memberlfi corresponding to the member of Figs.-l

.to 4 is employed, the twosectionsof'said 1 member 15 being hinged together at to facilitate liftingthe type member 14: to examine the work. Also iffdesired con tlnuous member of spring sheet metal might V be employed, as the member 1 6. 15

Inpractice where printingis tobe ',ac

complished as in Fig. 1, a base line 22 is, preferably drawn upon the surface to re-.

ceive the printing matter, and if desired vertical or transverse linesf23 may also be drawnen the surface 1 to.- be printed. The

' respective members such as shown in Fig.

2having the desired letters attached thereto are successively arranged uponjthe surface 24f to .beprinted and alined with referenceto the base or otherlines of the surface tobe printed, and then held in place by the operator applying one handover the section 16 to press said section firmly in contactfwith the surface to. be'printedl The letter having been previously coated onits facewithrinkis then pressed by the other ficiently to apply fresh ink with'lthe' finger r and, then the prlnting operation repeated f'w'ithout' having released the member 16.

scribed is capable of considerable,modifica tion without departing from the principle of my invention.

' Whatl claim is 5 i saidfanchor plate arejrespectively attached;

. ,ben through which the. surface to j which ,7

' 1. A'set offtype members ing a printingmember having anembossed contact with the surfacejto be'printed hav ing .onef'ace' substantially in the same plane with, said printing I face, and a connectingmemberto=which said printing member and 2; A set": of type members each comprising a printing member having an embossed;

printing face, an anchor plate'havingone face substantially in the same plane with:

saidfprinting. face, anda connecting memprintingisto'be applied 'may be seenand position of the anchor plate.

. printing member. and said each 7 'compr'isplate are respectively attached. V 3. A set of'type members each comprising a prlnting member having an embossed printing face, an anchor plate to be held "in contact with the surface to be printed having one face substantially in the same.

plane with" said printing face,,and a' fleXible connecting member to which the rear face of said printing member and the rear",

face of said anchor plate are respectively attached and which enables the printing member to be lifted from the printed-impression without changing the position; of

the anchor plate. I I a ,4. A set of type members each compris-' ing a printing member having an embossed:

printing face, an anchor plateghaving one face substantially inthesame plane with said; printing, face, a d a connecting me'm' her through which thesurface to; which printingis tobe applied may be seen, and

to which the rear-face of said printing mem V 7 her and the rear'face' of said anchor" plate are respectively attached, fsaid connecting 1 member serving as a hinge to enable the printing memberto be lifted from the printed impression without changing the r 5., A type member comprising an anchor a printing .member havingan embossed prlntlng face,

of fiexible material substantiallyfin the same" 'memberhaving an embossed printing .face',

an anchor plate having one face sub'stan I ,o tially in the sameplane'with said printing 7 The .apparatusherein illustrated and deface, and a connecting member through be applied may 'be'seen and to which said anchor plate: are respectivelyattached/ 4 c which "the surface to which printing is to 1' I 7. A type memberscomprising L fing member having an embossedgprinting pr nting face, an-anchor plate tobe held in a face, an. anchor plate to be heldrigidly in position with referencerto thesurface to be a connecting member to which said print ing member and said anchor-'plateiare rei spectively' attached, said connecting member serving as a hinge to enabletheprints ing member todbe lifted fro'm the printed impression without; changing the of the anchor plate' 8. A type member comprisingia printingl m m h i i besed rfiatie as;

7 plate to be heldin contact with; the surface to be printed having one face 7 an anchor plate having one face substantached, said connecting member serving as a tially in the same plane with said printing hinge to enable the printing member to be face, and a connecting member through lifted from the printed impression without 1( which the surface to which printing is to be changing the position of the anchor plate.

5 applied may be seen and to which the rear In testimony whereof I have affixed my face of said printing member and the rear signature. r 7 face of said anchor plate are respectively at- FRANK V. GARDNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

